It is reported that the United Nations Ambassador for the Promotion of the
Millennium Development Goals in the Asia-Pacific region, Erna Witoelar, on
Wednesday met with President Xanana Gusmão to discuss general development
issues as well as Timor-Leste-Indonesia bilateral relations. "As an
Indonesian myself, I know that the new democratic Indonesia very much respects
Timor-Leste as an independent country, and there is still much development
cooperation that can be done", said Witoelar, accompanied by SRSG Hasegawa.
She said that she felt very proud and moved to witness Timor-Leste under the
leadership of President Gusmão, and she considers that the country is
progressing well with some very sound principles. She praised the President's
willingness to convey both his positive and negative opinions of the United
Nations. (TP)

CTF Commissioners working as volunteers

It is reported that although the members of the Truth and Friendship
Commission (CTF) have been working for some time now, they have not yet received
a salary, because the two concerned countries have not yet approved the joint
budget. "The proposed budget is still being studied", said CTF
President Dionisio Babo, speaking to journalists from his office in Balide on
Tuesday. He said that in the interim, the Commissioners have been pooling their
money to allow the work of the Commission to go ahead. Speaking about other
difficulties that the Commissioners have experienced apart from the funding
problem, Babo said that the Commissioners often have different perspectives on
political and ideological issues, and their standpoint on what occurred in 1999,
and therefore they have been engaging in a lot of discussion. (TP)

97% of children participate in national immunization

It is reported that 97% of Timorese children participated in the National
Polio Immunization Campaign held in August and September. According to Minister
of Health Dr. Rui de Araujo, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the
results from the first and second rounds of the immunization campaign showed
that over 172 000 or 97% of children were immunized. The Minister related a
breakdown of the results per district, and confirmed that such a high overall
percentage is enough to dramatically reduce the risk of a polio outbreak in
Timor-Leste. However he warned that immunization does not 100% guarantee that
the virus will not affect anyone, and for this reason it is important to carry
out routine vaccinations of children born from August onward. (TP)

People's Republic to send rice and oil to TL

It is reported that the People's Republic of China has confirmed that in the
next couple of months it will assist the Timor-Leste government with a donation
of 4000 tons of rice and 500 tons of cooking oil, to be distributed to those
communities suffering from a lack of food. Minister of Labour and Community
Reinsertion Arsenio Bano told TP on Tuesday that his Ministry has identified 139
villages to receive the assistance and that the majority of these villages are
coastal villages. He said that the Ministry is still considering on how best to
distribute the assistance. He said that Oecussi will not be receiving any of the
assistance as Oxfam Australia and WFP are already assisting Oecussi in this
respect. (TP)

Parliament Soon To Set Up Investigation Team to Assess Bidau Mota Klaran Case

Speaking to the press on Wednesday , President of National Parliament's
Commission B in charge of Security and Foreign Affairs Faustino da Costa was
reported as saying that his Commission would soon set up an investigation team
in order to investigate the recent case of fighting which occurred in Bidau Mota
Klaran village of Dili District last Saturday, involving a PNTL officer
allegedly firing a gun as a threat to the local population, which reportedly
left them traumatized. " We would like to find out the case directly from
the victims even though PNTL had stated that the incident took place because
there was an attack towards PNTL officer launched by the local population. We
would like to know the reason why the officer was attacked," Da Costa
added. Da Costa further stated that some of the members of Commission B even
demanded both PNTL General Commander Paulo Fatima Martins and Minister of
Interior Rogerio Tiago Lobato come to the Parliament in order to explain the
situation. (STL)

Lieutenant Cornel Gomes Becomes Chief of Military Advisers for President
Gusmão

STL reported that F-FDTL's Lieutenant Colonel Donaciano Gomes a.k.a Pedro
Klamar Fuik was sworn-in on Wednesday by President Xanana Gusmão as the
President's Chief of Military Advisers. Speaking after the swear-in ceremony,
President Gusmào stated that he believes Lt. Col. Cornel Gomes would [properly]
carry out his duty as the Chief of Military Advisers in accordance with the
mandate of the Constitution. "I know that the task [as Chief of Military
Advisers] is a heavy one since we have just scratched everything from zero, and
we are not quite sure yet of what we can and cannot do in achieving what we
aspire," President Gusmão added.

In his speech, Lieutenant Colonel Gomes who has acted as the Head of F-FDTL's
Training Centre in Metinaro since 2003, said that it was an honour for him to be
in the new post, adding that this would make him ready to respond to concerns of
his colleagues in F-FDTL in regards to military matters. (STL).

TVTL News Monitoring

1. UN pledges continue support: The United Nations remains committed to
support the process of development in Timor-Leste, TVTL reported yesterday. This
commitment was reportedly announced by the UN Special Envoy for MDGs for the
Asia and Pacific region, Ms. Erna Witoelar, on Wednesday at the Palace of the
Ashes following a one hour meeting with President Xanana Gusmao accompanied by
the SRSG, Sukehiro Hasegawa, to discuss development process in Timor-Leste. In
her speech marking the 60th anniversary of the UN, meanwhile, the Special Envoy
was quoted as stating that Timor-Leste should not lose hope in the UN.

2. Military Advisor appointed: Meanwhile, at the same place, TVTL reported
that President Xanana Gusmao sworn in Lieutenant Colonel Pedro Clamar Fuik as
the Military Advisor to the President of the Republic. During the ceremony,
Gusmao reportedly stating that the appointment would further strengthen the
relationship between the military and the state to ensure security and stability
and state consolidation.

3. Church's Position on Prostitution: The Catholic Church disagrees with
Prostitution, TVTL reported on Wednesday. He Episcopal Vicaris for
Re-Evangelization of the Diocese of Dili, Fr Dominggos Soares, reportedly told
journalists that the Church considers prostitutes as criminals and hence
legalising them means paving the way for crime. Meanwhile, Maria Paixao MP, was
reportedly stating that there is currently no law to regulate prostitution.

4. Lobato appeals for Security Investment: The Minister for Interior Regerio
Lobato, TVTL reported, has appealed to the government to consider investment in
the area of security to intensify security efforts along the border area. Lobato
was reportedly making the appeal in relation to the recent security tensions in
the border area of Oeccusse.

Regional Media Reports

MDG AMBASSADOR POSITIVE ABOUT TIMOR-LESTE'S PROGRESS

United Nations Special Ambassador for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
Ms Erna Witoelar will today depart Timor-Leste after a successful visit, during
which she met with President Xanana, Ministers, Civil Society and development
partners. The MDGs agree that we should all work together to fight income
poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion - while
promoting gender equality, education, & environmental sustainability.

Since Timor-Leste regained its independence significant progress has been
made in improving the living conditions for the people of Timor-Leste. Yet it is
also recognized that further concerted efforts are needed to sustain the
progress that has been made in poverty reduction and improvement of health and
education conditions if the MDG targets are to be reached by 2015.

Ms Witoelar was positive in describing how Timor-Leste is doing in achieving
the Millennium Development Goals. "Timor-Leste has the support of the many
multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies and together they have identified where
gaps exist and are working hard on making progress in those areas.The country
started with so little when they won their freedom, so they have had to catch up
in a lot of things. I am quite confident that Timor-Leste will be able to
achieve the MDGs. Maybe not by 2015, maybe a little later, but if they continue
in this direction, there is potential to accelerate the progress over
time."

During her visit, Ms Witolear also took part in UN day celebrations, which
included a visit to an exhibition displaying the work of the UN agencies in
working towards the Millennium Development Goals and attending a concert at the
Peace Park with President Xanana Gusmao and the Special Representative of the
Secretary General, Dr Sukehiro Hasegawa. Dr. Hasegawa thanked the Special
Ambassador for her efforts in raising the profile of the Millennium Development
Goals in Timor-Leste. "The Government has made significant progress towards
achieving these goals, increasing the national budget in the areas of education
and health and working to fight poverty in this new nation. I thank Ms Erna
Witoelar for taking the time to visit Timor-Leste."